Page 79 of Delayed Penalty

“What?”

“You. This. Us. We aren’t supposed to be doing this.”

I shrug. “We’re just having fun.” I pause, then say, “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“You’re the youngest, right?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with being the youngest.” I narrow my eyes at him, and he cracks a smile—just barely, but still. “But there are two roles for the youngest—they’re the wild child who can’t be tamed. That’s me, by the way.”

Now he’s really smiling. “You don’t say.”

“It’s true. Crazy, I know.” I wink at him. “Then there are the youngest who are forgotten. Their parents already raised other kids, so they’re sort of forced to raise themselves. These kids become fixers, especially because they’ve always relied on themselves for everything. So they think every little problemshould fall on their shoulders. I have a feeling you’re a fixer.”

“I’m not, though. I’m not, but I’m trying to be. I’m the wild child.”

I shake my head. “No. Youbecamethe wild child. You weren’t always, were you?”

He darts his eyes away, and I know I’m right.

“I actually got straight As in school. Full-ride scholarship. Can you believe that? I was at the top of my class. My parents didn’t give a shit, obviously, but I did. If I had good grades, I could play hockey, and Ireallywanted to play hockey. Not just because it was my ticket out of that shithole town and shit life, but because I loved it. It was the only thing I had to get me through. Ihadto be good, or I’d wind up like them or Aiden, and that was the last thing I wanted.”

He talks about the game the same way my brother does—like he would be lost without it. In Hayes’s case, I think that might be true.

“Hockey saved you.”

He nods. “Hockey saved me.”

I have so many questions I want to ask him, so many things about him I don’t know. But I can’t think of them now, not when he’s slipping his hand into my underwear, palming my ass. I know he’s doing it on purpose. He’s distracting me. He’s avoiding talking about anything real. And I’m willing to allow it,especially with how good it feels as he kneads my cheeks, spreading them apart and letting his fingers dip into the crevice just enough to tease me.

“You know,” he says, kissing my collarbone. “I don’t think I ever noticed this mirror on the back of your door…”

“It’s been there since I moved in.”

It’s such a stupid statement, but that’s what I am right now—completely stupid. I can’t be blamed. He’s dragging his lips over my neck and up my jaw, nipping at me as his cock grows harder and harder by the second.

“It’s giving me ideas.”

“What kind of ideas?”

“Ideas where you finger your pretty little cunt, and I get to watch.” He releases me, falling back on his palms that felt so good against me, and I feel so naked without his touch. “Turn around, Quinn.”

I scramble to do what he says, flipping around in his lap until I’m facing the mirror. I straddle him backward, gasping when he spreads his legs, widening my thighs. I’m wet. It’s so fucking obvious, the dark stain on my cotton underwear easy to see even in the dim light. I should be embarrassed, but I’m not. I can’t be bothered. The look Hayes is giving me—like he’s hungry and I’m the only one who can satisfy his need—doesn’t allow room for it.

He grabs the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head and dropping it to the floor so I’m sitting in his lap in nothing but my soaked panties.

“I want to see you,” he says in my ear, and I barely hear him over my own heartbeat. He wraps his hand around my stomach, and goose bumps break out over my skin as he slides it up, cupping my breast in one hand and pinching my nipple. “Show me.”

I nod, sliding my hand between my legs to the edge of my gray panties and pulling them to the side, revealing myself. He’s seen me plenty before, but with the way his eyes widen and his nostrils flare, you’d think it was his first time.

“Fuck,” he groans in my ear, and it’s so damn hot I can hardly stand it. “Touch it. Touch it and tell me what you feel.”

I slip a finger over my clit, and though the touch is soft, I still shudder, already so on edge. I circle the sensitive spot a few times, teasing myself before diving lower and slipping one finger inside.

I sigh, resting back against him. It’s not as good as his touch, but it’s better than nothing, especially right now.

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